The Piedmont Regional Jail Authority (PRJVA) voted to extend the contract of its medical service provider through Dec. 31, after which the jail would release a request for proposal (RFP) beginning Jan. 1. The vote took place after an executive closed session at the jail’s Aug. 15 meeting.

Vice Chairman Ronald Roark made the motion, saying that the jail would pay Mediko, its medical contractor, approximately $180,000 a month between September and December.

The five-year contract between the jail and Mediko was set to expire Aug. 31.

“We will prepare a Request For Proposal and advertise it for other medical companies to submit a proposal to provide inmate medical services,” Davis said in an email. “The present company has agreed to remain in the jail until the new company is selected. The present company has done an outstanding job over the past 5-years.”

Davis said Mediko could re-submit a proposal and it would be evaluated with other potential bids.